What did you think of Jack's plan to rescue Beth from Joshua Hicks? Were you surprised by Hicks’ true identity?

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -
Wow! What a ride!

First off, and then I'll come back after I've taken some time to consider this plan the question references, I don't think it occurred to me who Joshua Hicks was until we were introduced. When you introduce a new character late in the game something's afoot. And what else could it be, another chance and also another cliffhanger for Jack.

OK, off to review and think.

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested." Sir Francis Bacon, Of Studies

I was not surprised that he went for Beth and Joshua turned out to be his Uncle. He did surprise me when he used his knowledge of voodoo and his likeness to his father to fool his Uncle into thinking he was his father back for revenge. Jack was learning to think on his feet. I also liked the description of Jack fending off his Uncles attack so easily, another mention of how much Jack had learned from his time as a pirate. Of course we knew that Blackbeard was going to be there in his new persona.

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers

I was surprised by the real identity of Joshua Hicks. I was also pleased that he was still alive so Jack could avenge his father. It was a pretty dicey endeavor to crash the party, and as gemini said, we knew Blackbeard would be there to get Beth. I thought the whole episode unfolded really well, including the use of the "marionette" to send the signal to Hicks.

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -